While Thailand usually dominates the other regional sporting event - the SEA Games - the competition is much tougher at the Asian Games

The Amateur Boxing of Thailand (Abat) has set ambitious targets in recent years, particularly in the small weight divisions. This time around Thailand will have a strong squad, possibly better than 2004 Olympic team because apart from the Olympic trio, flyweight veteran Somjit Jongjohor, who won the lone gold medal at the last Asian Games, is included in the squad.

Thailand's eight-member squad started preparing for the games at the Bonanza Camp in Nakhon Ratchasima in April before taking part in the International Amateur Boxing Championships in Egypt in August, where Suban Phannon, Pichai Sayotha and Worapoj took home the top honours.

The team also had a two-week training stint in France last month. In the closing stages of their preparation, the Thai fighters are scheduled to spar in Cuba under the watchful eye of coach Juan Fontanial, who was behind many of Thailand's successes in the ring.

After training with the Cuban, the squad should be well prepared both technically and physically before launching their campaigns in Doha.

Closely monitoring their preparations has been General Taweep Jantararoj, the Abat president. He predicted that the squad will make it through to the finals in six categories and could win at least three gold medals.

"In my opinion, if we get a favourable draw we should reach the finals in six events - 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 60kg, 64kg and 75kg," said Taweep. "I'm confident we will win at least three gold medals."

One controversy has been the return to the squad of Olympic gold medallist Manus, who has had many problems in his personal life over the last two years. Taweep said fitness is the key if the Ratchaburi boxer is to shine in Qatar.

"The event might come too soon for Manus," he said. "After a two-year absence from the ring, he needs match practice to get back to where he was before.

"He has shown a good attitude during training and I think his current physical condition is 80 per cent. So he still has to continue his hard work. With barely a month before the Games start, hopefully he would be fully fit."

Taweep also expressed his concern with the refereeing standards at the quadrennial event, which had been long been a chronic problem.

"I'm quite concerned with the officiating performance in the Asian Games," he said. "We have to accept that even though the tournament has higher standards than the SEA Games, it still not in the same class as the Olympics.

"In the Olympics the judges panel have to officiate to a standard because they are well aware that the whole world is watching. But with fewer eyes on them in the Asian Games, it is likely that biased judgement could be made more easily."

The squad:

Light flyweight division(48kg): Suban Pannon. Flyweight division(51kg): Somjit Jongjorhor. Bantamweight division(54kg): Worapoj Petchkum. Featherweight division(57kg): Sairom Ardee. Lightweight division(60kg): Pichai Saiyotha. Light welter weight division(64kg): Manus Boonjumnong. Welterweight division(69kg): Angkarn Chompoopuang. Middleweight division(75kg): Suriya Prasarthinpimai.

The Nation

Kitinan Sanguansak